MarkieMarkNYC

In case you are not aware, gay & lesbian cruisers like to use steam and sauna's just like everyone else.

Not trying to create a problem. I just found it odd that this was the only other board devoted to specialty cruising where you posted this and I couldn't help wonder why that is.

As you say, gay and lesbian cruisers like to use steam and saunas just like everyone else - so it's curious to me that you didn't add your post to boards devoted to families, disabled, honeymooners, military, singles, etc.

So what are these places you thought were so nice? Are locals treated as well as tourists? :confused:

I urge you to read carefully and not make assumptions based on your own biases. I didn't specify any destination as "so nice". But I don't regret any of my travels.

Certainly there are many places where many of us travel where tourists are treated better than locals.

You tend to give short, non-informative responses to various posts. So in an effort to understand where you're coming from, would you mind sharing a list of countries where you would comfortably travel?

Have you been to any countries that don't perform same-sex marriage and, if so, do you regret those visits?

And to explore your question further, do you only visit countries where locals are treated as well as tourists?

You posted this question on the Fitness, Spa, and Sports board which seems appropriate. What is the particular relevance of this question to this board?

Great post Bo!

One can find ugly, bigoted people anywhere. Unfortunately, protests against gay people are often organized by various political and/or religious groups and don't necessarily reflect prevailing attitudes. And those protests and other hate-filled activities get a lot of play in the press.

To avoid travel to countries with anti-gay (or anti-whatever) positions would be to limit oneself to a very small segment of the world. And as Bo so well expressed, American leaders and laws have been guilty of this.

The official platform of the party currently in power in the US condemns the Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage and espouses "traditional marriage" as the foundation of a "free society" (apparently freedom is for some and not all). So we Americans need to clean our own house and be cognizant of bigoted, unreasoned leaders and positions within our own country before damning others.

I strongly believe that exposure to what is scary can make a big difference in attitudes.

My husband and I have traveled the world in our 27 years together and we've visited plenty of places that are considered hostile to us. When people see gay people who behave just like everyone else, who participate in their economies, and who respond in friendly and accommodating manners, the mystique and fear they have might be eased and our commonalities just might be recognized.

Last month, I felt very underdressed because I read that all restaurants were "resort casual." I didn't bring anything dressier than a black skirt and a polo shirt top. Wow...most women were dressed as if going to an fancy restaurant at home (not formal, but dressy). Now I know that in the MDR and specialty restaurants the dress is similar to Princess - much dressier than resort casual but not formal. I'll bring appropriate clothing next time.

Go-Bucks - what was your itinerary? I have found that European itineraries on Oceania are maybe slightly dressier but not much. I haven't done Tahiti with Oceania (but did with Renaissance - it was pretty casual) but would imagine that dress standards would be similar to the Caribbean, which was pretty relaxed.

OP - one of the delights of Oceania is the lack of focus on fashion. Just bring your sparking personality and be, like, really smart! :)

I bring a blazer because I actually like wearing it (I can get by with a less-than-pressed shirt). But it's definitely neither required nor expected.

I wouldn't be surprised if it were. O needed to put out the posting firestorm and address the subject. It would make sense that someone at O hastily registered, since there hasn't been a previous presence, and posted a quick message.

 

If they are an O employee, hopefully they'll get verified and become a good liaison like Bonnie at AZ is. I'd rather give them the benefit of the doubt at this point instead of trashing them.

That is, if nothing else, completely adorable. :evilsmile: :hearteyes:

Talk about overreacting. This is much ado about nothing. Obviously a computer glitch. Life is short. Get outraged over important stuff if you must. A lot of wasted energy here imo.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

+1.

It was pretty clear all along it was a glitch. It's funny that one poster felt it was worthwhile to create an Oceania account in response (but even funnier that a couple of others bought it! :p).

OMG they forgot a space after the word "The". :eek:

 

 

They're so inept. I think you shouldn't cruise Oceania Cruises because of that.

So do you think the post is from Oceania?

You seem tense. Perhaps a nice bubble bath would do you good.

It must be hard to be so perfect :rolleyes:

I would imagine that a post by someone acting on behalf of the corporation wouldn't make a typo when writing a post from that corporation.

And I would expect that a name is attached to the post.

But apparently you disagree.

Some of our guests received multiple email communications yesterday due to a technical issue.

We truly regret any inconvenience and are taking steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Thank you kindly for your support and patience.

 

 

TheOceania Cruises Family

Umm, yeah, this sounds like it's from Oceania.

First post - and a typo in the signature. :D

In Italy homosexuality has been legal since 1887. In Arizona, since 2001.

And in both, practiced since time immemorial! :evilsmile:

Sorry about your sister getting the flu LHT28. However, when you receive a flu shot you are advised that it takes at least 2 weeks for the flu vaccination to become effective. You can get the flu within the first 2 weeks after having the flu shot.

That is absolutely true.

In addition, and as discussed in this thread, some years the match is not good at all.

During the past year, the H3N2 strain has mutated to a point where the current vaccine isn't a good match.

I don't think anyone has suggested that the flu vaccine is 100% effective. It's really all about reducing risk.

I know that some people think the flu shot can cause the flu. It can't. That's just basic science.

Like any other population, you may encounter some who have a problem and some who don't. You pick the gondolier, they don't pick you. If you approach one and he has an attitude, move to another one.

I wish the OP would be a bit more specific.

In what way were the other gay passengers standoffish?

Did the OP approach them, say hello, and not get a response?

Is it possible, as the OP is single, that some of the other gay passengers didn't perceive him to be gay?

Is it also possible, since there were so many "rednecks", that some of the gay passengers felt a bit uncomfortable and perhaps not as outgoing as they otherwise may have been?

My husband and I have sailed on a number of Carnival, Cunard, and Oceania trips (as well as a few other one-offs).

We never find that other gay travelers are more or less standoffish. We do tend to say "hi" to or smile at pretty much anyone we pass in a corridor or sit next to on a deck, restaurant, or bar. But we don't go out of our way to introduce ourselves to other gay people. Maybe it's because we live in NYC and encounter gay people pretty much every 10 seconds.

In our regular lives, more than 90% of our friends are straight. So I wouldn't expect that the people we end up hanging out with on a ship would be any different.

All that said, we did have an amazing experience on a Cunard Panama Canal crossing a few years ago. We had a gigantic wraparound aft terrace and ended up meeting over 20 people at a FOD party in the days before the crossing. On crossing day, every one of them (and a bunch of non-FOD types) ended up on our terrace for hours and we did have an amazing time. It was a perfect mix of gay and straight with lots of fun and zero judgment!

Yes

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-benefits-grits-vs-oatmeal-2591.html

 

Does Princess have on the menu , shrimp and grits for breakfast , (one of my favorites, along with CFS, SOS, Chicken and waffles, and Oxtails with Collard greens). :)

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrimp_and_grits

 

Where? In the MDR, specialty restaurants, or H.C.?

 

Thank you.

Yes

Maybe I can get Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles for breakfast in the H.C. or dining room? Something like Popeyes Spicy crispy chicken, with a side of red beans and rice.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Jay;

 

I’ve seen people wheeled in with wheelchairs, hacking, coughing, and spitting. My thoughts have been “please lord, don’t let them be sitting by me!”

Yikes.

I've logged in over 2 million miles in the air and have never seen anything quite like that.

If you see a passenger who is hacking, coughing, and spitting, you could notify a gate agent or other airline employee. They do have some discretion to refuse boarding to people who are that ill and seemingly communicable.

King of cool;

 

My comments were only directed at those identified as having the flu, and not allowing them to board a plane for a long flight quite likely infecting other. Airplanes, with their tight quarters and super dry air is a breeding ground for germs as is . Subjecting others to those known sick personnel is crappy in my thoughts.

I don't see how the airlines would have the capacity to monitor everyone's health and deny boarding to those with symptoms. Unfortunately, airlines are relatively unforgiving when it comes to cancellation and change fees so the honor system might work to a point if the airlines relaxed those penalties.

Also, not everyone with a cough has a communicable disease or has a communicable disease in its transmissible period- again, it's beyond the capacity of an airline to determine this.

Just an FYI if you're interested - you're referring to "isolation" when you talk about separating ill individuals from people who aren't sick.

"Quarantine" is the separation of people who are not ill, but potentially exposed, from others who are not exposed or ill in order to break a chain of transmission.

Quick update, there is coughing and hacking everywhere. About half of the passengers have some form of a "cold". It looks like when we disembark tomorrow, a thorough cleaning of the ship will be done. Anyway, everyone's comments about the flu vaccine seem to be true. I told the shot but my husband did not. I am unaffected, he has the sniffles but he gets this a couple of times a year due to his sinuses.

Happy Cruising everyone.

Thanks for the update.

Do you know if they actually confirmed influenza in the affected staff and passengers?

I ask because influenza infection is very different from what is caused by various cold viruses and people often use the word "flu" to describe a cold or other upper respiratory tract infection.

For what it's worth, cleaning the ship is good for optics but not particularly helpful for preventing these kinds of infections.

The news is reporting that unfortunately the flu shot may not be as effective this year. It was only 10% effective in Australia which may be a sign as to what the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere is going to be.

That is the preliminary estimate and it's very unfortunate.

There are research efforts to create a universal flu vaccine that would protect against all (or almost all) strains and variants without the need for seasonal component changes. Hopefully something will be developed in our lifetimes.

I wonder if it is a case of:

 

1. Worldly travelers not getting their flu shot as recommended; or

 

2. Wrong flu shots?

 

Hard to imagine that a line like O doesn’t mandate all its employees get the flu shot. Maybe even a couple.

 

I do know that it’s been an issue where some passengers refuse to get recommended shots , such as yellow fever shots, before taking cruises. Really have to wonder how much that’s coming into play? A flu shot is cheap, painless, and easy to get.

Jinx! :D